1. Recent data from randomized controlled dietary trials have shown blood pressure-lowering effects of foodstuffs and dietary patterns to be of practical importance for both individual and population blood pressure control. 2. The salient studies include Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trials, on complex dietary patterns and of additive effects of salt restriction, Trial of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in the Elderly (TONE), on weight control and sodium restriction as substitutes for drug therapy, and two Australian trials showing additive effects of dietary fish and weight control and of dietary protein and fibre in treated hypertensives. 3. Regular coffee drinking raised blood pressure in older hypertensives, whereas potential antihypertensive effects of dietary anti-oxidants require further scrutiny.